Description
John Wesley Fry (1876-1946) served as an alderman from 1932 to 1936 and mayor from 1937 to 1945. Fry was born in Woodstock, Ontario. In 1897 he moved west to Regina, where he attended Normal School (teachers’ college). Having received his teaching certificate, he moved to Gainsborough, Lloydminster and finally, in 1911, to Edmonton, where he went into business as a contractor and realtor. Fry was an alderman for four years, and mayor for eight consecutive years. During this time he played a significant role in devising a plan to re-finance Edmonton’s debt during the final bleak years of the Great Depression and guiding Edmonton through WWII. Fry lobbied Ottawa to remedy Edmonton’s housing crisis. Eventually his efforts paid off with greater involvement in the Wartime Housing Scheme. Though he did not live to see the oil boom, it was largely through the efforts of John Fry that Edmonton was well- positioned to take advantage of it when it came. The John Fry Park is in the Parsons Industrial neighbourhood and has an area of 5.5 ha.
Feature Type
Park
Designation Year
1979